Job Description

The Programme Director will lead the Startwell Programme hosted by Whittington Health on behalf of North Central London (NCL). This role is responsible for delivering a major reconfiguration of maternity, neonatal, and paediatric surgical services across NCL, following the decision to close the Royal Free Hospital maternity and neonatal units and the Edgware Birth Centre.



The post holder will provide senior leadership, programme management, and strategic oversight to ensure successful implementation, including capital works, workforce planning, governance, and stakeholder engagement. They will work closely with executive leaders across Whittington Health, UCLH, Royal Free London, and the NCL ICB, managing complex stakeholder relationships and ensuring delivery of agreed outcomes.



The Programme Director will also lead the programme team , manage budgets, monitor risks, and report to Trust and ICB boards. The role requires a visible, credible leader with extensive NHS experience, excellent communication and negotiation skills, and a proven record of delivering complex change programmes.



Provide senior programme leadership and management to deliver the Startwell Programme successfully.



Develop and maintain a comprehensive programme plan with clear milestones and deliverables.



Chair project meetings and provide robust challenge, coordination, and leadership across multiple workstreams.



Line manage programme team members (including an 8b manager and band 6 project officer) and oversee additional secondees or consultants as required.



Manage the programme budget , ensuring projects are delivered within agreed financial envelopes.



Identify, manage, and mitigate programme risks and issues , escalating where necessary.



Ensure effective reporting through Trust and ICB governance structures.



Build and maintain strong relationships with executive leaders, clinical directors, managers, and external partners across NCL.



Lead the development and implementation of an effective communications and stakeholder strategy .



Represent Whittington Health and the Startwell Programme externally, promoting collaboration and raising the profile of the programme.



Support clinical and managerial teams across NCL to ensure smooth transition and service redesign.



At Whittington Health , you will join a dynamic and collaborative team committed to providing safe, personal, and coordinated care to the local community. Our staff work across both hospital and community settings, serving over 500,000 people in Islington, Haringey, and surrounding boroughs.



The Startwell Programme team operates in a fast-paced, high-profile environment where innovation, flexibility, and problem-solving are essential. Team members are supported to develop professionally and are encouraged to contribute ideas and solutions, with a strong culture of mutual respect, trust, and open communication.



Our organisation values leadership, teamwork, and the wellbeing of staff , promoting equality and personal development. Staff benefit from structured appraisals, opportunities to work on complex, high-impact projects, and the chance to make a real difference in transforming healthcare services across North Central London.



Main Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Leadership & Management:

Provide senior leadership for programme projects, maintaining the programme plan to ensure delivery.



Develop a comprehensive programme plan with delivery timetables and workstream approaches.



Chair project meetings, providing robust challenge, coordination, and leadership across multiple workstreams.



Line manage project staff, including an 8b manager, a band 6, and other temporary or seconded staff.



Oversee programme budget and ensure financial management aligns with Trust policies.



Monitor programme risks and implement mitigation strategies, escalating where necessary.



Report programme status to Trust committees, boards, and the ICB Board.



Coordinate programme functions and provide assurance on projects, managing dependencies both within and outside NCL.



Support directors and teams with strategic deliverables and identify organisational development needs.



Leadership



Act as a visible, credible senior leader with Trust teams, commissioners, and NHS England.



Build and maintain strong working relationships across Trusts, ICB, and external stakeholders.



Ensure staff contributions are valued and incorporated into decision-making.



Oversee engagement with external stakeholders, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams.



Deliver presentations and training on programme progress and changes to practice.



Communication & Stakeholder Engagement



Lead the communications and stakeholder strategy in collaboration with ICB and Trust communications teams.



Organise and facilitate programme meetings, ensuring information is effectively disseminated.



Raise the profile of the Startwell Programme internally and externally.



Employ diplomacy and negotiation skills to align projects with strategic objectives.



Information Management



Produce accurate information for boards, committees, and forums.



Develop and implement information-sharing systems to ensure effective decision-making and analysis.



Financial & Capital Management



Ensure projects are delivered within approved budgets.



Escalate and manage financial risks in collaboration with finance leads.



Ensure procurement is value-for-money and compliant with Trust policies.



Other Responsibilities



Promote cross-organisational learning and sector-wide initiatives.



Act as an ambassador for Trust and programme vision and values.



Undertake other duties commensurate with the role as directed.

Key Relationships:

Internal:

Whittington Health CEO, Chief Medical Officer, Executive Directors



Divisional Clinical Directors, operational managers, strategy and finance teams



Startwell Programme team (project staff, secondees, consultants)

External:

Senior leaders across NCL Trusts (UCLH, Royal Free London)



NCL Integrated Care Board (ICB) leaders and NHS England representatives



Place-based partnerships and other external stakeholders